Functional Skills FAQs

No. DfE's positions, which all awarding organisations must apply, is that centres must make every effort to test learners. Adaptations must be utilised as required to enable live testing to take place. If you require any different approach, please contact us to discuss your individual needs. Additionally, where accommodation is challenging, DfE provides funding to centres to access alternative venues to ensure live testing can take place. All attempts to access live testing must be followed and evidence retained within the centre. TAGs must only be put forward for individual learners in exceptional cases.

Unfortunately, DfE guidance indicates that such learners must be entered for a live test, using adaptations if required. If any anxiety remains, a special consideration request should be submitted following completion of the live test.

Functional Skills is comprised of ondemand assessments with fewer guided learning hours, usually taken over a shorter period. DfE therefore took the view that as the qualification is smaller, disruption is potentially less severe. As the assessments are available ondemand, it is possible for live testing to continue, which would not be possible for other qualifications such as GCSEs in the same way.

The ESFA and DfE have announced that certain apprentices can now access Gateway without completing their Functional Skills in advance. These learners would then have up to 3 months to go back and complete their Functional Skills. Full details are available here

No, live testing must always be your first choice. Teacher assessments will only be available where you can demonstrate learners are unable to access a live test and you can confirm all options to enable access to a live test have been fully explored.

Currently, Ofqual and the DfE are not allowing TAGs for Functional Skills. At this point in time, the guidance from DfE and Ofqual is that live testing should continue where it is safe to do so. However, we are working closely with Ofqual on the details of the alternative arrangements that will be permitted for learners who have completed teaching and learning but who will be unable to take a live test. These arrangements will not be in place until the outcome of Ofqual's Technical Consultation is known. Therefore, you should continue to enter learners for a live test wherever possible. We ask you to view our guidance on making adaptations on Functional Skills assessments. 

The Secretary of State has made it clear that assessments for Functional Skills can currently continue to proceed with protective measures put in place to ensure they are conducted in line with PHE measures. Depending on your situation, you may sit assessments in your centre as normal if you are to remain open. For centres who are closed, we offer a number of adaptations to the invigilation procedures to help assessments take place.

If your learners need to access tests and our current adaptations do not cover your needs, please contact us and we can explore any viable alternative solutions.

The legacy assessments for English and maths have been extended to the 31 July 2021 for certification. The last assessment date is the 18 June 2021. Registration for these qualifications closed on the 1 September 2019. 

Studying and taking the Level 2 stretch and challenge component for intermediate apprentices is suspended until the 31 March 2021. Training providers should add a dated note to the evidence pack for the apprentice explaining that the test was not taken due to revised guidance during Coronavirus (COVID-19). There will be no requirement for those apprentices who are passed through gateway to go back and take the level 2 Functional Skills test. However, If the apprentice would like to attempt the Level 2 Functional Skills English and maths assessment, they should be allowed to do so.  

We are allowing SLC assessments to be conducted remotely using appropriate technologies. All remote assessments must be recorded and a Pearson Standards Verifier may ask to attend a live assessment as part of our monitoring activities.

We have published additional guidance on our website for Level 1 and 2 as well as for Entry Level assessments. 

We have full guidance on our COVID 19 response page. By exception we are offering remote invigilation through video conferencing software, employer invigilation and can extend the life of paper-based assessments.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the assessment for Functional Skills ICT these tests cannot be remotely invigilated. Our other adaptations can be requested to enable these learners to take their assessment.